New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-02
KING GEORGE or tonga AT HOME.

From The london GlObe.
Some years ago we called at Tongatuba the principal
island Of the Friendly Tongan group AMI learning
that the King then residence determined to pay
respects 10 The celebrated old OF whom had
heard so many and snch strange stories during our
rambles through his capital! His house. we found was
niceooking twostorled wooden building, close
to the and stood In good sized compound fenced In
all sides Passing through handsome pair OF cast
iron gates we arrived nj the mansion Itself, the
veranda ~ which appeared TO be used a coach house,
for there was proudly and snugy stored away the Royal
buggy; rather Domalous sight for palace and
strange position for an equipage or stae. IL was q
Palace Of the Sleeping Beauty. ut any rate Of sleep
There signs OF life about the place and falling
TO wake any one by repeated knockings at the front
and lid finding 1t still and lfcess everywhere till we
came Ia row OF cookho and upon curious sight
ancient and dnsky person perfectly naked with the
cepon OF scanty coth fastened about his waist and
literally paseriDg II with lime. As soon rs the
curious pair became conscious OF orr presence the
about TO address them To explain our presence
and ash few question: when the gentleman OF the
voice. aud at the same time fine Young Tongan very
oily aud tnreeharers nnde came rushing out from tne
interior toward US. With much poitcness and evident
agitation he conducted Us away from the veranla anu
back the big house, where in broken English, backed
up by mOch gesonlation he revealed to us the appa-
ling fact that had irespassed upon the privacy OF no
Indeed For the old gentleman. in the plasterer's
hands, Ind presented by no means dguihcd appear
ance and knew that approach him without notice
and In state OF undress was OF Tongsn
court etiquette. However We eonsoed ourselves with
the reie, lion that sin very easy to commit
For the King. who Is very much governed. seldom
troubles palace with company, and much prefers
the cook house yeranda where sguatted on ms MANS
he dcyour his fish ana tara In his fingers with peace
aud contcnimcnt away from the rksome semi European
the Honorable aud Reverend Shirley Baker VINO never
II he help IT, lets the poor old native see visitors
without siif preliminary drilL
Having hum6y apologized for innocent intrusion
and received reassuring answer, we were ushercd
through the window into a sort of draw ng ROOM we'll
furnished apartment with number OF red velvet chairs
around a long mahogany table, one chair little
higher than The rest acting. no doubt as throne Here
waited for about half an hour when His Majesty
sraciousy pleased TO accord us formal interview He
shook hands very with our party anu we az
ting the Moor between The King. seen at closer
sandas Ti n feet oa OF wonder well
proportional and athletic build. upright as dart and
rsyages of time however were visible in the sunken
eye and halfopen ncryously twtehing mouth, which
ia the hands OF a single man-Kng George Tubop's
name. WITH its halo OF ancient lineage ana splendid
ruling the King The dark lace contrasting so strangely
and strongly with the snow-whlte hair, presented
curious study Wrinked with age and inanc In express
sion II still bore uur1stakabe signs OF what II had
been in the days gone by was easy to couture up me
look OF cruel nnhnchng. ndomtabe Will that lace iad
in the old Inonarchs unrcgcnerite days,when he
held b., BY the fs, v o1 might an re s rdI blood &
ter ibe name ms people stu admire anu fear. Inc
strong glaze tha. must have lighted them when in tho
bloody days Of yDrc he. then victorious savage as
sighting terms with his hands the Offenders
tongue from between his living Jaws and contemptn-
Olsy swullOwe1 IL before the Nfetcncu Nlcuu
The gtrb OF this curious specimen OF royalty, though
elaborate than that In which had seen him hrrt
Of extreme simplicity, still consisting merely OF
white linen shirt, nrt In round the waist WIN ION
cloth OF gandy figured calico reaching to just below the
knee; and he went barefoot. . 49,.
For time In accordance with native etiquette strict
silence observed. the King looking straight before
him. without moving muscle OF seeming aware OF our
scrutiny but at last In queril0us tome ne deinahueo
business their. We answered Pclitey that passing
through the group We had called 10 pay our respects
lie gruned at this and after little thought inquired
there anything wanted or anything else We
wished to say On replying that we should IKE very
received a hasty Yes" Of permission and there our
interview ended. His Majesty rose and haughty strobe
on through the window 10 his beloved cook-house,
where donbt, he tore on bis society smIt WIN al
speed and settled happily down to finger his fish again
Meantime being left quite alone availed ourselves
of the PERMISSION we had obtained to view the Tongan
Palace, and, passing through inner door, ound our
selves in u spacious entirely unfnrDished nall, IRON
which broad staircase to the regions above ialf
way up the landing, covering the entire iail OF the
William in full military uniform, mounted on white
charger and surrounded by brilliant stan This 10
gether with the order OF the Red Eagle was present
time after the rongan Parliament had proclaimed tha
the nation would observe strict neutrality throughout
the FrancoGernan AZ the top OF tho staircase we
found the royal bedrooms all but one dirty unused anu
full Of lumber tho furnished or state apartment con-
tanning an enormous gilt bedsead. quite largo enough
10 accommodate four people The bed had never peen
its present position years before ard there IL stood ana
probably still stands. all dusty furnished and dim tne
mattress decayng the delicate and costly lace curtains
dropping piece By piece TO the dirty Moor In fac the
only habitablo room in tho whole Yacc was that In
which the King recaved The rest either stores
for rubbish occupied In purely native iashioh anu
mat spread the floor all the furniture required
We OF His Majesty. or indeed, OF any one
else. but qicuy let ourselves out BY the way we mao
entered and thus ended our visit 10 the pest Kno"ho
all the ROYALTIES OF the Pacific Islea